São Paulo: the business centre of Brazil
São Paulo, the most populous city in Brazil and the entire southern hemisphere, is not only beautiful but also very diverse.
São Paulo is one of those places I have always wanted to visit. Now, on the occasion of our trip to Brazil, I finally had the chance to see this one of the most populous cities in the world and I am very impressed by it. It is very eclectic and at the same time very inclusive. Anyone who has driven by here once will want to come back.
São Paulo and its history in a few words
The city was founded as a small settlement in the 16th century by the Jesuits. From the beginning of the 19th century it was the provincial capital, but its greatest development came at the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century. The impulse for development was the arrival of the railway to the city – then the world centre of the coffee trade – in 1867.
Today, modern metropolitan buildings predominate and there are not many historical monuments. São Paulo, which has a population of 12 million, is home to Brazil’s largest university and three smaller universities, two airports and a number of modern architectural gems, including the Mirante do Vale skyscraper and the Museu de Arte de São Paulo.
São Paulo also has a vibrant nightlife, with numerous clubs, restaurants and bars opening their doors in the evenings and providing champagne entertainment until the early hours of the morning.
Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that São Paulo is a Brazilian business centre where the richest move around in rather unusual taxis… helicopters, to be precise.
Places worth seeing
Admittedly, I only spent a few days here, so I probably didn’t see even a small part of São Paulo’s attractions, but a few things caught my eye. Here they are:
Ibirapuera Park
It is the largest city park with an area of 1.5 km2. It is most often visited by locals and tourists who jog here, ride bicycles and inline skates, and simply take a stroll.
City centre
To jedyna część São Paulo, w której zachowały się jeszcze budynki z XVIII w. Zwłaszcza polecam Teatro Municipal, które łączy w sobie barok i sztukę nowoczesną. Warto zobaczyć też katedrę da Sé, która jest najstarszą świątynią w całej Brazylii.
A football game
In Brazil, football is the national sport, so it is no surprise that São Paulo has as many as three football teams competing for the title of best local club. These are Corinthians, Palmeiras and FC São Paulo. It is worth going to a match of any of the teams to get a feel for the sporting festivities.
